Medicinal value:

Dahlia roots contain inulin, which has a very obvious effect in medicine. The whole plant of dahlia can be used as medicine. It has the effects of clearing away heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis. Therefore, dahlia also has certain value in medicine.

Pharmaceutical name: Dahlia

Source: It is the root tuber of Dahlia, a dicotyledonous plant in the Compositae family.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis.

Indications: Treatment of bruises.

Meridian distribution of nature and flavor: pungent, sweet, flat; Liver meridian.

How to grow dahlias:

Soil selection: Dahlias are suitable for growing in loose, humus-rich and well-drained sandy soil. The best soil for planting potted dahlias is vegetable garden soil, leaf mold soil, sandy soil and dried manure. The soil is very sticky, so it is best not to use soil that has become hardened, as it is easy to get waterlogged and cause root rot.

Watering method: Dahlia likes water but avoids stagnant water. It is afraid of both waterlogging and drought. This is because dahlia has fleshy roots. If it is overwatered, the roots will easily rot. However, the branches and leaves are lush and the evaporation rate is large. It also requires more moisture. Therefore, watering should follow the principle of "dry and water thoroughly". Generally, the seedling stage in the early growth stage has limited water requirements. Watering can be done once a day on sunny days to ensure that the soil is slightly moist. Too dry or too wet is not suitable.

In the late growth period, when the branches and leaves are luxuriant, more water is consumed. On sunny days or with northerly winds, it is easy to lack water at noon or evening, so the amount of water should be increased appropriately.

Fertilization method: Dahlia is a kind of fertilizer-loving flower. From the seedlings, thin liquid fertilizer is usually applied once every 10 to 15 days, and again 7 to 10 days after budding. When the flower buds are translucent, watering of fertilizers should be stopped. It is not advisable to fertilize when the temperature is high.

The amount of fertilizer applied depends on the growth of the plant. If the leaves are light and thin, they are deficient in fertilizer. On the contrary, if there is too much fertilizer, the edges of the leaves will be scorched or the tips of the leaves will turn yellow. The leaves are thick and green, which is a suitable sign for top dressing. The concentration of top dressing should be increased each time to make the stems strong.

Pruning method: No matter how beautiful the flowers are, they will become stubby, so you must learn to prune them. Pruning of potted dahlias should be done flexibly according to the variety. Generally, large varieties use the single-book shaping method, and medium-sized varieties use the four-book shaping method. Single dahlia reshaping means to retain the terminal buds and remove all axillary buds to concentrate nutrients and form a single dahlia with a low plant and large flower shape. Siben shaping involves topping the seedlings and retaining the two base nodes to form four lateral branches. Each lateral branch retains a terminal bud, creating a potted dahlia with four stalks and four flowers.

Ornamental value

The reason why Lihua is called one of the world's famous flowers is mainly because of its long flowering period, large flower diameter and many flowers. In the northern region, the flowering period is from May to mid-November. Under suitable temperature conditions, it can bloom continuously all year round, with the peak blooming after autumn. The maximum flower diameter of fine dahlias can reach 30~40cm, which is unique among current flowers. Flower colors include seven major colors: red, purple, white, yellow, orange, ink, and complex colors. The flowers have single and double petals. Single petal flowers bloom for a shorter time, while double petal flowers bloom for a longer time. Flower characteristics and changes in petal shape are the main basis for variety identification. There are varieties of flower types such as ball type, chrysanthemum type, peony type, decorative type, saucer type, disk type, hydrangea type and peony type. They are known for their magnificent colors and beautiful flowers. And famous.

Therefore, dahlias are suitable for planting in flower beds, flower paths or in front of the garden, and dwarf varieties can be used as potted plants.

Economic value

Dahlias are easy to plant and have good patch planting effect. They can be planted by ordinary families and have a long flowering period. The roots are planted in late March and can bloom in mid-June. And it can be bloomed until the frost period, which can not only beautify the courtyard, but also bring economic benefits to farmers, so courtyard breeding is a good direction.

In addition, because there is a lot of rain in the south, the flower heads are prone to water accumulation and the flower heads are easy to break. Therefore, it is relatively difficult to cultivate dahlias in the south. The cultivation of dahlias is mainly concentrated in the northern region. However, many breeding companies continue to increase their efforts to cultivate new varieties and actively develop the southern market.

China has developed dahlia varieties suitable for planting in the south and will soon be available on the market. The launch of these new varieties will drive the development of the dahlia market in the south